Manchester United need a new spark getting rid of Jose Mourinho

We can hardly remember a long dominating season for Manchester United since Alex Ferguson said goodbye to Old Trafford. David Moyes, Ryan Giggs, Louis Van Gaal, and Jose Mourinho took charge in those five years, but none of them have been able to bring that spark which Manchester United craves.

David Moyes came as a great prospect and highly admired by Alex Ferguson himself, but he wasn’t given a full season to lead the Red Devils. His premature departure brought Ryan Giggs as an interim manager in last month of the 2013/14 season, but he was judged as too naïve to lead a great club like Manchester United.

Louis Van Gaal was given the duty to lead the club for next season onwards but highly respected Dutch manager survived less than two seasons in charge despite winning FA Cup during his reign. He was sacked day after lifting FA Cup. Van Gaal breaking his silence on Manchester United’s sacking told Daily Mirror as Sky Sports reports, “United put my head in a noose and I was publicly placed on the gallows.”

United were very eager to bring in Jose Mourinho and Portuguese manager arrived to lead the team from 2016/17 onwards. Everyone from United’s board to players, and Chief Executive were happy to get Mourinho. But it was a decision taken in hurry.

They only had “the special one” in their mind knowing he has delivered the title wherever he has gone, but they forget that they didn’t need a quick fix. Mourinho hasn’t stayed at a club for more than three years and United don’t work like that.

Jose Mourinho never survived at a club for than three seasons

Mourinho arrived winning EFL Cup on his debut, won Europa League at the end of the season, helped his team finish second on Premier League table very next season. It was good from point of winning a trophy every season, but it never brought that spark and charisma which you feel when you say Manchester United.

The club is in complete disarray. There is communication gap between the manager and the board. Players are insecure with their position in the team. Group cohesiveness is at its lowest level and there is not a single player who hasn’t been in rift with Mr. Mourinho. He has publicly criticized his players many times and never took the blame on himself for the game lost and points given away.

However, he has made a new rule in his third season at the club that he won’t criticize his players in his interviews. After Brighton defeat, he said he won’t criticize his players publicly. But the truth is, he is in no position to continue with his rants when club’s morale is already on a low level. There is speculation that he’ll be sacked as well before the end of this season.

The truth is club has lost their identity in past five years despite winning few trophies. It’s a club which demands little spark rather than winning ugly, and Mourinho has failed to bring those sparks at Old Trafford. He only has occasional success at Old Trafford, otherwise he has failed to bring the ‘fear factor’ he promised before taking managerial job.

Mourinho disturbs group cohesiveness

Mourinho is also the one who disturbs group cohesiveness rather than allowing it to grow. He often has been in difficult relationship with club’s icon players and it has never been a good sign. His “I’m the boss” mentality has never brought any good to the team.

He was in rift with Iker Casillas at Real Madrid, which took his job. He was in bad relationship with Chelsea’s icon player Eden Hazard in his third season during second spell and it led to his sacking. And at United, he’s not in good relationship with many players but players couldn’t take the risk to speak publicly about their manager.

Mourinho always criticizes his squad and says he’s not happy with the team he has, but at a time at the club he has the third most expensive squad in Premier League.

He has a great goalkeeper in David De Gea. He himself has brought in centre-back pairing of Eric Bailly and Victor Lindelof. Phil Jones and Chris Smalling are not bad either. Marcos Rojo is still Argentina’s no.1 choice but he hardly finds place in United’s lineup. Luke Shaw and Matteo Darmain were hardly trusted by Mourinho. Antonio Valencia is still very good in his right-back role, but he’s deployed as left-back. This season only arrival in defensive duty came in 19-year-old right-back Diogo Dalot but I still feel Red Devils are not bad defensively. It’s only their tactical game which led them to concede too many goals.

They have great players in their midfield. Nemanja Matic is one of Chelsea’s jewel whom Mourinho himself brought to Old Trafford alongside him. Ander Herrera, Paul Pogba, Fred, Juan Mata, Alexis Sanchez, and Andreas Pereira are the players whom every team would like to have in their teams.

Jesse Lingard, Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford, and Romelu Lukaku are bright prospect in the forward department and they’re trying to prove themselves. United could have done better bringing in some proven goal scoring machine but they miss the transfer deadline.

But, still they have a good team. They only need a new spark getting rid of Jose Mourinho. A different manager with different game plan can restore the lost identity. Mourinho is not the man for me. He is good for a quick fix, but someone like United who look out for long-term goal. He is a complete no-no.

Will he survive 2018/19 season is doubtful? Manchester United have a lackluster 2-1 victory over Leicester City. It was coupled with hurtful 3-2 loss against Brighton. Next, he has got Tottenham Hotspur. Second defeat in a row will definitely be indigestible, and who knows he’ll be the first Premier League manager to be sacked for 2018/19 season.